By Bukola Adama
Kwara State Governor, Alhaji Abdulfatah Ahmed has challenged the new Commissioner of Police to tackle insecurity and criminality in the state as well as maintain law and order.
Speaking during a courtesy visit on Monday by the newly posted Commissioner of Police, CP Aminu Pai Saleh at Government House, Ilorin, Ahmed said he would not relent his efforts to make sure that security challenges in the state are properly addressed.
The Governor stated that the current security trend in the country requires proactive measures to combat problems such as armed robbery, herdsmen/farmers clashes, cultism and communal clashes arising from boundary disputes.
He therefore promised to give community policing a big boost in the state given its demonstrated impact of effective policing and the cost of fighting crime.
According to him, “we want you to champion the cause of community policing which will involve all and sundry. We have alerted our traditional rulers that they should also carry on advocacy and the need to strengthen community policing at the local government level with Divisional Police Officers”.
The Governor said his administration will ensure that lives and property are secured by working closely with security agencies stating that a special force had been put together under Harmony Security System to serve as a rapid response team in areas of security needs.
Earlier, the new Commissioner of Police assured that he will ensure security of lives and property, stating that he had embarked on familiarisation tour around the state.
…advocates propagation of culture, tourism
The Kwara State Governor, Alhaji Abdulfatah Ahmed has restated the commitment of his administration towards opening up tourism sites in the state.
The governor, who was represented by his Special Adviser on Agriculture and Rural Water Support Services, Hon. Anu Ibiwoye, said the state is investing heavily in infrastructure and rehabilitation of roads to create access to the major tourism sites to reflect the diverse cultural heritage of the people of the state.
He stated these on Tuesday at the main auditorium of the University of Ilorin during the first National Conference with the theme “Dynamics of Language, Literature and Culture in New Age,” organised by the English Department of the institution.
Emphasising the importance of culture, Ahmed said, (it gives us an identity and helps to understand our values as a people”.
He further stated that in the midst of globalisation and changing world values, “it is important we preserve our culture”.
He mentioned that his administration has put in place structures to celebrate Kwara’s cultural heritage and leverage tourism as a tool to enhancing the Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) of the state.
Ahmed stated that there are plans to develop key tourism and recreational assets across the state through the State’s Public Private Partnership.
Ahmed further assured all Kwarans that his administration will continue to develop policies and initiatives directed at improving the lives of the people of the state.
Earlier, the keynote speaker, Prof. Olu Obafemi, who doubles as President, Nigeria Academy of Lagos, said that the conference is a veritable evidence of the growth of the department and a consolidation of the achievements recorded in the past.
He recommended that government should invest in the literature of the nation and grant generously to literary institutions and literary people in their domain.
In attendance were; the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Sulyman Age Abdulkareem, a former vice chancellor, Prof. Shuaib Oba Abdulraheem and Prof. Timothy Babatunde who delivered the lead paper.
Also present were various deans and heads of department amongst others.
